Product Developer
Want to join a boutique food innovation agency that helps reimagine the way the world eats? We have the job for you.
CCD Innovation is a woman-owned consulting agency that helps food manufacturers and entrepreneurs develop and commercialize food and beverage products. We help create the packaged foods you see on grocery store shelves and Quick-Serve Restaurant menus. We’re looking for an enthusiastic, energetic team member who’s eager to be part of our family-oriented work culture.
Education/Experience
2+ years experience in food product development and/or culinary arts.
BS degree in Food Science or related field, formal culinary training, certification, or equivalent experience are required.
Dedication and self-motivation, able to work closely within a high-performing team, and take the initiative and ownership of your own work.
Passion for food and innovation.
Proven ability to work well in teams, troubleshoot, manage details, juggle projects and thrive under pressure.
Have confidence interacting with a wide range of people at all levels of business.
Have a knack for bringing ideas from the whiteboard to market. Be able to communicate and collaborate with other teams to make your concept a reality.
Creatively and consistently excite and astound with new product ideas.
Great communication skills are a must, as you will be working with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
Responsibilities
Formulate benchtop food and beverage products with taste as the primary qualitative driver. Simultaneously have a deep understanding of commercial processing, food stability/shelf-life, ingredient costs, nutritional targets, and packaging considerations.
Understand and apply culinary principles to benchtop product development.
Basic knowledge of restaurant/food service operations and benchtop translation considerations to back of the house.
Industry baking and pastry experience is a plus
Leverage a previously established robust network of suppliers to source new ingredients. Build upon and maintain this network with your own resources.
Knowledge of consumer insights and ability to refine products based on qualitative and quantitative feedback.
Participate in and act as R&D lens in client ideation sessions
Develop products within specific nutritional and ingredient guidelines; generate preliminary nutritional and ingredient statements using Genesis software as needed
Experience in the scale-up and commercialization of products in a wide variety of manufacturing locations is a plus
Maintain accurate project information, formulations, and specifications
Write finished product specifications and occasional project status reports
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple simultaneous projects
Work with a wide variety of client departments.
Possess excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
Knowledge of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and ESHA (nutritional database) program
Up to 20% of the time traveling domestically and occasionally internationally
Required Experience & Attributes
The position requires a critical and analytical thinker, in addition to, good writing and communication skills. The Developer will help balance multiple projects and deadlines and must be organized, with excellent time-management skills. Strict professionalism in client presentations and client relationship management is required.
This role is ideal for an ambitious, energetic culinarian or Food Scientist with cooking experience. That experience may include culinary school, restaurant/bakery work, or a Food Science or Culinology curriculum. An excellent work ethic is a must, as is a love for food.
CCDI’s culture is a high-energy, creative, and teamwork environment with core values of quality, innovation, honesty, ethical integrity, customer service and loyalty and respect for colleagues and customers. These attributes are essential to the position.
General Requirements
Microsoft Office, Mac fluency
Analytical, Problem Solver, Strategic Thinker, Networking, Persuasion, Research, Writing, Telephone and Communications, Identification of Customer Needs and Challenges, Team Player, Market Knowledge and Professionalism.